People Headlines

November 06, 2014

It was a 70s-era pop culture fanatic's dream come true Wednesday as the entire cast and over 20 guest stars of the seminal, iconic TV show The Love Boat reunited on board Princess Cruises' Regal Princess as part of the cruise line's year long 50th anniversary celebration. Love, definitely (of the obesessive fangirl kind, that is), exciting, oh yeah, new? Unless you count some of the star's faces, not so much. The 70s definitely threw up on the Lido Deck at this spectacluar, which seemingly missed nothing other than, perhaps, appearances by The Landers Sisters, Lola Falana, and Lyle Waggoner (Google it, millennials).

There was Gavin MacLeod (Captain Stubing), Fred Grandy (Gopher, turned politician), Ted Lange (Isaac the bartender), Bernie Kopell (Doc), Lauren Tewes (Julie the Cruise Director), and Jill Whelan (Vicki), all decked out in their Pacific Princess finest, helping to christen the new ship and supping with the puppetmaster who paid for all of this---Princess owner Micky Arison.

And while the spirit of The Love Boat brainchild Aaron Spelling indeed was present, his daughter Tori was not, bailing from her master of ceremonies duties a day before the big extravanza because of, cough, a cough. Tori's absence wasn't even noticed as the ship took on a decidedly retro fab, nostalgic theme thanks to a stellar supporting cast, a circus of the stahhhs that included appearances by--throw the life preserver out right here:

Loni Anderson, whom we met heading into the ladies' room looking a little lost

Joyce DeWitt, who brought a little Regal Beagle to the Regal Princess

Florence Henderson and Christopher Knight, Brady mother and son who, as far as we know, unlike Gregg and Mrs B, have never hooked up

A bearded Lorenzo Lamas bickering with his umpteenth wife

Carol Lawrence, a musical theater actress who was married to Robert Goulet for a few decades

Doris Roberts, best known for her latter role on Everybody Loves Raymond, but a Pacific Princess regular

Love Boat theme song singer Jack Jones who indeed sang it

One Day at A Time and Mamas & The Papas spawn Mackenzie Phillips looking and, she told me, feeling good and taking it --er, never mind;

Don(ny) Most, aka Ralph Malph from Happy Days, who asked where in New York I was from, Happy Days matriarch Marion Ross

Knots Landing'sJoan van Ark, who declined a photo because she told me she was in the hospital all day with "kidney stones"

Frank Sinatra, Jr., who may have had a bit of his legendary dad's swagger, but was completely, like most people, eclipsed by the highlight of the night, none other than Charo.

Charo, as usual, at 63, was on fire. She gave a full blown, rousing performance, showing off her guitar skills, and then somehow, cough, ended up in an elevator with this writer, giving us a private show, a hyped up, hilarious rendition of her catchphrase, 'cuchi, cuchi.' During a photo op with the Latin spitfire, she turned to me and said, "Smile, you leetle beetch." Was this The Love Boat or Fantasy Island? A little bit of both, for sure.

More tweets went out between us and Lancaster, while Rodman apparently
retweeted some. Then the Feds got wind of things and, well, Lancaster got a slap
on the wrist from Rodman's camp, which allegedly received a call from the State Department. "My intentions were good," said Lancaster, who deleted some of her tweets. Wrist
slapping and tweeting is one thing, but is the drag queen going with Rodman to
dinner and drinks with the supreme leader?

"Perhaps I'm a bit naïve, but I thought if I could convince Rush Limbaugh to stop
making disparaging comments about homosexuals on his radio talk show I'd be
successful in getting to 28-year old dictator to set a fellow American free," Lancaster, whose real name is James Davis, said. "I guess I really don't know the complexities that go on, but it doesn't seem
as if anyone is working or trying to gain freedom for Kenneth Bae. I don't
want to make negative comments about our current administration, but It seems as
if we have a lot more muscle to use to demand his release. I would never
make a spectacle of myself, going to a communist country where I know known
homosexuals are systematically executed. I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid.
Dennis is my friend first and foremost, yet he has no idea what takes place
under the rule of Kim Jong Un. I'm well aware of the atrocities that take
place there almost daily I'm sure, but somebody needs to do something. We
must engage our enemies and negotiate freedom. Whether I go to North Korea in
December or January with Dennis is at the wait-and-see. I will seek out the
advice of people a lot wiser than I am. But my only reason for wanting to go
is, if not me then who?! "

April 14, 2013

Philanthropist and The Real
Housewives of Miami cast member Lea Black is really a mad social
scientist of sorts, fusing a motley crew into one big philanthropic
Petri dish. Her latest concoction was seen Saturday night at the Fontainebleau at
her and her defense attorney husband Roy's haute hootenanny to raise money for
a cause bigger than all the egos in the ballroom--children.

And while we expected some people to
act like children, the whole scene was surprisingly civilized and drama
free. Sure, there were the grand camera-ready entrances of RHOM cast members Lisa
Hochstein and Joanna Krupa, in attendance with their RHOM alum, the
smart one that got away, dentist Karent Sierra. The other half of that
show was busy showing solidarity for each other and took their drama to the gay
polo tournament in Wellington. Footage of both forthcoming, only by Bravo.
There was also a handful of hilariously colorful women at the party who should
have been cast on that show, especially the one who introduced herself to us
saying, "I'm not a stripper. I'm not a hooker. I'm a socialite."

But it was nothing compared to the
grandest entrance made by erstwhile cast member, drag queen Elaine Lancaster,
who entered with long time BFF and recent, unofficial North Korean ambassador
and Kim Jong-un idol Dennis Rodman. The duo was joined by former
Miamian Lisa Pliner, who seemed to provide the larger than life Rodman
with more than his fair share of amusement. Toto, we're not in Pyongyang
anymore.

Speaking of North Korea, Rodman
spoke to us exclusively on his controversial trip there. "I have been
contacted by the FBI and I met with them. They wanted to know what went on and
who's really in charge in North Korea. I have been invited back to North Korea
in August and I want to go. I'm not a total idiot. I know what Kim Jong-un is
threatening to do regarding his military muscle. I hope it doesn't happen
because America will take whatever actions to protect America and our allies. I
do think, umm, you know, that we have to talk to people who want to cause us
harm so hopefully they won't. I've been talking to folks for years who don't
get what I'm about but that's cool, 'cause once they walk away they like me. I
might be able to keep folks' heads cool. We all going to find a way to get
along and keep peace. Peace and love is where it is at, Lesley."

Indeed. But beyond those politics,
there were no doubt party politics taking place around the room, as young Miami
mixed with not so young Miami (and some famous visitors including Lance Bass
and Kardashian appendage Jonathan Cheban, who talked to us about his
aspirations to become the "next Simon Cowell," because of his
penchant for judging people) for a fun filled night of selflessness despite the
inevitable presence of a few party crashing freeloaders who were captured on
camera not so surreptitiously lifting a VIP gift bag.

American Idol winner Taylor Hicks provided the dinner music, a
mellow, bluesy mix of Doobie Brothers and Elton John, while local
fave Flo Rida got the crowd--and some willing and able women--up off
their feet, onto the stage and, for some, almost out of their clothes with a
powerhouse show of his greatest hits.

So further beyond the politics, baubles,
Botox and ballers, how much was raised? "We're still counting," Lea
Black told us. "It was a packed house of people partying until one in the
morning. Between Taylor Hicks, Flo Rida, DJ Whi5ker5 and his incredible
light show, and all the generosity, it was, hands down, one of the best parties
yet." We agree. In what universe would you ever expect to see Kim Jong-un
in the same blog post as The Real Housewives, Taylor Hicks, Lance Bass and Flo
Rida? Now that's so Miami.

May 21, 2012

As John Travolta's former massage therapists emerge with allegations of inappropriate behavior, we're hearing that a certain South Beach drag entertainer claims to have had a brush or two of his own with the actor at the Russian & Turkish Baths on Miami Beach a few years back. The model turned high profile drag queen is said to have had his own consensual touchy feely moment with Travolta following their individual Eucalyptus massages, a subject the former Sweathog is said to have been very, er, excited about, sharing the benefits of this ancient rubbing ritual while communicating his knowledge to the out-of-drag dude with a hands-on demo. Refusing to jump on the bandwagon, said drag queen is remaining uncharacteristically tight lipped and will neither comment nor come forward. That is, until Gloria Allred, attorney for two of the more loose lipped alleged ex-Travolta paramours, or JT himself comes a knocking. We're also counting down the minutes until some former Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne massage therapists jump into the ring as that's the hotel Travolta seems to favor, along with alleged late night in-room massage appointments, when he's in town.

March 13, 2012

Although it was a benefit for The Little Lighthouse Foundation, a non-profit organization that "rallies volunteers and conducts high-profile events to benefit children and their families throughout South Florida," Saturday night's Hearts & Stars gala at the home of socialite Malinka Max (more on her later) and George Wallner turned out to be yet another opportunistic spectacle by The Real Housewives of Miami, namely Elsa Patton, who we are told was overheard complaining "What is this horrible event? I'm ready to go." We can't tell you whether or not the event was horrible--not everyone loves a splashy gala. What we can tell you is that the producers are completely exploiting "Mama Elsa" as a sideshow attraction in order to keep those rubbernecking viewers coming back for more. As for Malinka Max, a socialite whom some say would have been an excellent addition to this cast, we're told "She was horrible on camera." How much worse than the others could she possibly be? Anyway, stay tuned as the cameras continue to film at the opening of every envelope and toilet lid around town.

When it comes to these Housewives shows, there's several sides of a story: hers, hers, hers, hers, the "truth" and the truth. Shortly after posting the above, we received this photo with a comment that Patton had a blast and danced all night. "She danced all night even after being accidentally kicked in the head by one of the new cast members," says our informant. Kicked in the head by one of the new cast members. Hey,the show must go on. Slapshtick only by Bravo.

March 05, 2012

The castmembers of The Real Housewives of Miami continue to post pictures on assorted social media channels, trying to convince themselves everyone that all is swell and eagerly attempting to build up a speck or two of public interest, but we can't help but notice Rush Limbaugh's favorite drag queen, Elaine Lancaster, in many of them, unlike the first season, when many of the ladies were allegedly jealous of her, er, commanding presence. This season, however, producers don't care and want the jealousy. Says one insider "The ladies were so worried that Elaine would appear as the breakout star, so they complained to Bravo, who then forced Lancaster to lay low. Now producers want that jealousy, so they welcome Elaine." So who else will hover in the drag queen's shadow? A third new castmember has emerged and is pictured to Lancaster's left in this photo taken yesterday when the Housewives crashed the annual gay gathering known as Winter Party: Ana Quincoces, someone whom we know from our other job as editor of Eater Miami as a full time lawyer, part time chef and bigtime networker who managed to campaign herself all the way to last year's title of Eater's Hottest Chef in Miami. Says one castmember who is already exuding insecurities, "She's not too exciting, but sweet." That may be debatable, but what's not debatable is the fact that it took casting agents a helluva long time to find willing and able participants for the second go around, making many realize that maybe most Miami women are smarter than people think. And so it begins...

March 04, 2012

In the wake of Rush Limbaugh's misogynistic "Slutgate", we thought we'd dig into the archives and post some old pix of him (Fat Rush) with Miami's most colorful drag queen, Elaine Lancaster, and a newer one (Not As Fat Rush) with Lancaster's male incarnation and brainchild, James Davis. Lancaster isn't quite the type of, er, woman Limbaugh usually lashes out against, and judging by the euphoric look on his face in the photo with Davis, suddenly some things really do make sense. But we'll just let the pictures speak for themeslves.

March 24, 2010

After the dust settled on a rumor that no one but us on slow news day, her kids, and maybe Andy Cohen and NeNe Leakes seemed to care about, The Real Housewives of Atlanta's drag queen Doppelganger Kim Zolciak has admitted to Life & Style that she's bisexual. Sort of like the anorexia and bulimia of tabloid confessions of years past, the bisexual card has been played by several bona fide celebs and at the end of the day no one really cares which way these celebs swing. But Zolciak is no celebrity and some say that's why she's coming out, no pun intended, with this latest bit of TMI. According to Zolciak, she and former Miami-based DJ TracyYoung had sparks the first time they met, when the two were in the studio together remixing the aural sludge that was Tardy For the Party, a project that arose via Twitter, of all places. Zolciak had split with the elusive Big Poppa for the umpteenth time and, according to her, Young just ended a 3-year-relationship. "Tracy made the first move. Our kiss was passionate and exciting," Zolciak says in an interview she was probably paid to do. Our source isn't really buying it. "She sounds honest enough to me [in her confession], but I believe it is just another ploy to keep the 15 minutes alive." Perhaps we can see for ourselves as Young is in Miami for Winter Music Conference and Zolciak, never tardy for a publicity party, is said to arrive in Miami sometime tomorrow.

February 03, 2010

In town for assorted Super Bowl festivities including one with fashion designer Richie Rich last night at the player-heavy Club Play, Pamela Anderson, who is prepping for her upcoming gig on Dancing With the Stars, spent some quality time with her bff James Davis, a.k.a. drag diva Elaine Lancaster, who clearly did her makeup last night. Anderson's ex, Tommy Lee, is also doing a gig at Club Play, this one on Saturday night, hosted by Chris Brown and featuring a spin--off between Lee and T-Pain, of all people. How's that for a threesome: Brown, uh, Pain, and Lee. A motley crew indeed.

October 28, 2009

While American Idol winner Kris Allen was preparing for his Sunday game day performance at Landshark Stadium, runner up Adam Lambert was busy at the Boca Raton Resort & Club where he performed at the Party City Halloween Bash and Industry Awards last Saturday. Dressed as a 'glampire' complete with fangs and eyeshadow that would make all the Bubbes in Boca proud, Lambert, whose debut album For Your Entertainment will be released on November 23, sang the Johnny Cash classic Ring of Fire among several other hits from his Idol tenure. The vampire look seems to suit him more than the overly airbrushed Xanadu meets Duran Duran's Nagel-ified Rio meets Glamour Shot one as seen on his album cover, no?